Ernst louis ripp



E. L. RIPP.

(No Model) LADDER.

Patented Apr. 5, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST LOUIS RIPP, OF SCHGNAU, NEAR OHEMNITZ, GERMANY.

LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 472,141, dated April 5,1892. Application filed September 12, 1891- Serial No. 405,452. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST LOUIS RIPP, a subject of the Kingof Saxony,residingat Schonau, near (Jhemnitz, in the Kingdom of Saxony and GermanEmpire, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Ladders, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable,efficient, and coinparatively inexpensive folding ladder.

Myinvention consists of the improvements hereinafter described andclaimed.

The nature and characteristic features of my invention will be morefully understood from the following description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and in which Figurel is a front elevation of a folding ladder embodying features of myinvention and showing at the left-hand side thereof a broken section ofa cap pivoted to oneof the rounds and embracing the overlapping portionsof the links forming the side pieces of the ladder. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing an appliancearranged for use as a step-ladder and provided with hooked ironsengaging certain of the caps. Fig. 4 is a view showing the ladder infolded condition, and Fig. 5 is a detached view showing a channeled cappivoted to a round on opposite sides of the links.

In the drawings the side pieces a and a of the ladder are composed oflinks or chain members I), and certain of the rungs or rounds c of theladder serve as connecting bolts or pivots for the chain-links. Theextremities of the rounds c, that serve as connecting-bolts, areprovided with caps d, which impart stiffness or rigidity to the ladderin one direction by reason of their outer parts (1' abutting against thechain-links b, and which also permit the ladder to be folded up in theother direction into the position shown in Fig. 4. These caps 61 may bepivoted to the rounds c to one side of the links I), as shown in Fig. 1,or they may be pivoted to the rounds c on opposite sides of the linksI), as shown in Fig. 5. In both cases the caps cl serve to impartrigidity to the ladder in the manner above described without interferingwith the operation of folding the same.

The hereinbefore-described ladder may be used as a scaffold or stepladder, Fig. 3, by employing one or more hooked irons e engaging certainof the caps d, for the purposes of staying or stiffening the structure.

Having thus described the nature and objects of my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A flexible or folding ladder comprising a series of links disposed inpairs, rungs pivotally connecting the respective extremities of thelinks of each successive pair, and caps centrally pivoted to therespective extremities of said rungs and adapted to embrace the adjacentextremital portions of the corresponding links of each successive pairof links, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A flexible ladder comprising a series of links disposed in pairs,rungs pivotally connectin g the respective extremities of the links ofeach successive pair, and channeled caps centrally pivoted to therespective extremities of said rungs on opposite sides of the links andadapted to embrace the adjacent extremital portions of the correspondinglinks of each successive pair of links, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

3. The combination, in a flexible ladder, of a series of links disposedin pairs, rungs pivotally connecting the respective extremities of thelinks of each successive pair, channeled caps centrally pivoted to therespective extremities of said rungs and adapted to embrace the adjacentextremital portions of the corresponding links of each successive pairof links, and hooked irons adapted to engage certain of said caps,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

ERNST LOUIS RIPP. Witnesses:

M. P. BOYD, R. E. J AHN.

